If you have been in Paris in January, you know what I mean when I say ‘brrrrrrr’. Winter sweeps a chill through the city, one that seeps through layers and layers of sweaters and socks… Now, in reality the temperature isn’t really that cold (never below 30°F), but you know what they say: everything is relative!
So what do you do when the temperatures drop in Paris? Boy do we have some great advice on how to keep warm in Paris this winter.
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Curl Up With Your Favorite Book in a Cozy Bookstore
Image: Wikicommons
What’s better than snuggling up on a big armchair with a good book as the winter wind howls outside? There are plenty of cute and cozy bookstores and cafes just waiting for you in Paris. But today I am recommending the famous Shakespeare and Co. – because it’s both!
If you don’t know about Shakespeare & Co, it’s an old and famous Anglophone bookstore located just across the river from Notre Dame.
The store has a small reading room on the second floor. Our advice: get there early on in the day to snag one of the comfier seats!
Bonus: Shakespeare and Co. has recently opened a café adjacent to the bookstore! Perfect to wander into for a hot drink.
Shakespeare and Company. 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris (+33) 1 43 25 40 93
Hours: Open everyday 10am-11pm
Head to Angelina for the Best Hot Chocolate in Paris
Image: Wikicommons
The hot chocolate at Angelina is the richest, most decadent hot chocolate we have every gotten our lips on and we can’t recommend it enough. Angelina’s is located in the heart of Paris, within steps of the Louvre, Tuileries gardens, the Place de la Concorde, and the Champs Elysées.
When you’re in the neighborhood checking out the most famous landmarks in Paris, why not stop in and warm up with what is practically a melted candybar in a mug? Paired with their amazing homemade whipped cream…yum…need we say more?
Angelina. 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris (+33) 1 42 60 82 00
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 8:30am-7:30pm
After Hot Chocolate comes Hot Wine
Image: Flickr
So, you’ve satisfied your sweet tooth with a trip to Angelina, now what? Head to almost any café in Paris to try out the winter specialty of vin chaud (hot wine). Our special suggestion is Le Pick Clops in Le Marais, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris. The café has a 50s diner vibe on the inside, and the terrasse is perfect for people watching in the trendy Marais.
Le Pick Clops. 16 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004 Paris (+33) 1 40 29 02 18
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7am-2am, Sunday 8am-2am
Discover One of the Many Ice Skating Rinks Around Paris
Image: Wikicommons
Okay, so this one may seem a little counterintuitive, but bear with us. Ice skating in Paris can be magical! And if you bundle up correctly, all of the skating (and/or falling) can create some nice body heat. There are a few different patinoires (that’s French for ice skating rink) located throughout the city, but we recommend trying out the rink that is on the second level of the Eiffel Tower (we know, right?!), or the rink that is on top of the Montparnasse Tower (again, we know, right?!). Both offer up a beautiful view of the city, and we think going at night time is the best choice! So, grab your warmest gloves, socks, and scarves and bundle up!
Patinoire sur la Tour Eiffel. Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
Open from December 15, 2016-February 19, 2017. Open everyday 10:30am-10:30pm.
Patinoire sur la tour Montparnasse. 33 Avenue du Maine, 75015 Paris
Open from February 10, 2017-March 5, 2017. Open Monday-Friday 12pm-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-8pm.
See a Movie at Le Grand Rex
Image: Wikicommons
Le Grand Rex is one of the oldest movie theaters in Paris, dating back to the 1930s. The theater is so old and beautiful, that the French named it an official national monument. Inside the movie theater, one gets the sense that they are at an opera or a ballet, that is how gorgeous the art deco style decoration is in this place! The majority of the films offered are in French, so this one is definitely for our true Francophones. If you think you can handle the français, we definitely suggest checking out this gem of cinematic history!
Le Grand Rex. 1 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 Paris (+33) 1 45 08 93 89
Hours: Please consult their website for movie times.